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Magic: The Gathering’s collaboration with Avatar will not hit the general market before the end of the week, yet following early access events over the last few days, one cheap green card saw a sharp rise in market worth.

Even during previews, this small creature drew widespread focus. This two-power, two-toughness requiring one green and one colorless mana, Badgermole Cub features Earthbending 1 (perhaps the best among the set’s four “bending” mechanics). Its key advantage here lies in an additional effect: Each time you tap a creature for mana, add an additional green mana.

Initially, the card could be purchased for $26.98. Following the early events, however, the market price jumped to $49.66 with at least one listed as high as $60. Why are we seeing premium pricing for this cute lil guy? Primarily thanks to the explosive mana ramping it provides.

When it arrives the battlefield, this creature turns a land to a creature land granting it earthbend. And with that second ability, as long as it is not removed, every earthbent land generates double mana — along with mana-producing creatures in your control that produce resources.

An ideal partner to combine with would be the classic Llanowar Elves, a low-cost creature that taps to generate a green resource. Yet many other mana generation creatures available. Another option is a more expensive alternative that’s a 1/3 costing two mana instead.

Using land cards, mana-producing creatures, plus the cub, it's simple to summon a massive and very expensive threat on the battlefield by round three or four. Momentum builds exponentially with continued aggression from there.

When adding an additional hue in this strategy, options such as versatile mana producers are all great options that can make all five colors. Additionally, a useful enchantment creature lets you play another terrain every round AND turns every land you control so they count as all basics. Another possibility is for example a card called A Realm Reborn, at a six-mana investment gives each permanent you control the capacity to produce a mana of any type — even all creatures in play.

Badgermole Cub may be OP when it comes to ramping up your mana generation, but what’s the endgame finisher in such a strategy? A common and powerful choice is Ashaya, Soul of the Wild. Power and toughness match the number of lands you control, and it makes each creature you own Forests in addition to other subtypes. In other words, every single creature on your board can generate two green mana when tapped.

Another creature provides a high-cost, powerful body that thrives with lots of lands (like Ashaya, P/T are equal to the number of lands you control).

Nissa fits really well as a go-to Planeswalker. Her static effect allows all Forests generate an additional green mana. (With a Badgermole Cub, this results in all earthbend forests yield three G.) Her main ability functions like a proto-earthbend, putting +1/+1 counters on a land, handy though it doesn't stack with the cub's ability. Her ultimate, on the other hand, makes all of your lands indestructible enabling you to search for all the remaining forests in the deck. Should you manage to use that ability, it’s pretty much game over.

Badgermole Cub is pretty much essential for all green-based Avatar strategies that use the earthbend mechanic. When branching into Gruul colors, there’s Bumi Unleashed. It possesses level 4 earthbending, and when it hits a player to an opponent, each animated land are ready again and can attack again. Although this card has become a fan favorite Commander, the cub is definitely going to remain one of, if not the most sought-after card in the collaboration.